Old Edwardians, King Edward's School, Bath

🙌 Celebrating our 472nd Founder's Day

We had a fantastic morning at Bath Abbey yesterday celebrating our Founder's Day and marking the end of the academic year. AS you'll remember from your time at KES, it's always a thrill to see the Royal Charter that King Edward VI granted in July 1552, establishing a 'school in grammar for ever' in Bath.

We were very proud of our CCF as they escorted the Royal Charter into the Abbey and of our wonderful musicians and performers who played so beautifully. The outgoing Head Prefects, accompanied by the youngest pupil in the Junior School, read out the Royal Charter as well as the list of benefactors to the School.

We welcomed back some Old Edwardians, one of whom hadn't taken part in Founder's Day since they had left KES in the 1970's and some of our donors, who were able to see the impact their support has made in our School.

Share your memories of Founder's Day in the comments below, we'd love to read them! 👇

OE Ian Ashworth (at KES 1974- 1976, class of 1981), also met up with the School's Sports Tour in Canada a few days ago, to watch the pupils play rugby and to chat to staff, bringing his 50-year-old KES scarf with him!

Another OE meet-up in Canada, with staff on the Sports Tour catching up with 2017 leaver, Sasha Putt!

Match Day 1 on the School's Sports Tour to Canada began with rugby, and saw OE Alan Green (1999) watching the match and meeting up with current members of staff including John Tidball, who taught Alan 26 years ago, and Jason Bye (1995) who was Head Prefect when Alan was at KES!

OE Ashton Hill (a student at the University of Southampton), was inspired by his own experiences sailing on KES Activities Week. This summer he has joined the Tall Ships Youth Trust, and has been part of the team instructing current KES pupils out sailing this week on this year's Activities Week trip!

It was wonderful to welcome OEs who left in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s back to KES for the Summer Reunion held on 15th June.

Along with familiar faces, it was a pleasure to also see OEs returning for the first time in many years to reconnect and revisit the School. The day was full of lively conversations about everyone’s school days and their lives after KES, with recollections sparked by the Headmaster’s tour of the School site to see the growth of new facilities and developments as well as stepping back in time to see former classrooms and remembering where the former tuck shop used to be!

We look forward to hosting this event again next year and will circulate the date soon. If you have lost touch with KES and your old school friends, email us at [email protected] to join the OE mailing list and receive future event invitations and news from the OE and KES community.

Out now - a new book by OE Kate Werran: "Black Yanks: Defending Leroy Henry in D-Day Britain".

The book, published by The History Press, alongside the 80th anniversary of D-Day, tells the remarkable true story of how Leroy Henry, an African American soldier from Missouri, ended up on death row in D-Day Britain and the extraordinary campaign that set him free.

This is Kate’s second book – her first title, the award-winning "An American Uprising in Second World War England", was optioned for documentary and scripted drama. A specialist on the US army that was stationed in Britain before, during and after D-Day, Kate came to writing following a career in journalism, and producing critically acclaimed twentieth-century history programmes for the BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5.

For more information, please visit: https://thehistorypress.co.uk/publication/black-yanks/

Lots of smiles and happy reminiscing at the recent Anniversary Reunion held at North Road to celebrate the decade leaving anniversaries for OEs who left KES in 1974, 1984, 1994, 2004 and 2014!

Exciting esports news as Year 11 pupil, Henry Moore, signs a professional esports contract with Guild Esports.

We're really looking forward to our OE drinks reception in Marylebone this Thursday evening. There are a small number of places left so if you are thinking about attending, please register ASAP to avoid disappointment!

Book your place here: https://bit.ly/48PWf6K

We hope to see you there!

OE London Drinks Reception KES warmly invites you to connect with fellow Old Edwardians at this elegant Marylebone townhouse

Vignettes from an Inkblot Archipelago - a new play by OE undergraduate, Charlie McGuire opens tomorrow at the Corpus Playroom in Cambridge and runs from 30 April-4 May. For more information, please see the link below.

Vignettes from an Inkblot Archipelago Vignettes from an Inkblot Archipelago is a play of two halves: past and present, fever dream and reality, cause and effect. Frayed at their seams, however, the acts have an intimate yet strained relationship with one another- a tension present amongst the characters themselves. An unflinchingly all-...

Listen to OE Tom Bowles from Hartley Farm Shop and Kitchen speaking on BBC Radio 4 Farming Today.

We are delighted that our first event for Old Edwardians in New York City was a great success! 👏

Not only were we able to facilitate some meaningful connections between OEs, we were thrilled to receive a generous donation of $25,000 from the Sherwin family for our Wroughton Bursary Fund, which will award transformational bursaries to pupils who otherwise would not be able to afford a KES education. We are very grateful for their support.

You can read more about the life-changing impact that bursaries have on our young people here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dfqfPtNp

If you are an Old Edwardian based in North America and you want to join the growing network, let us know by emailing [email protected]

A laugh-out-loud new comedy by former staff Sue Curtis, in collaboration with OE Jon Monie, opens on 14 April at the Bath Comedy Festival. Performed in the magnificent original Theatre Royal, 'Slapstick!' takes its audience into the chaos of Regency Theatre using a mixture of mime, melodrama, song, puppetry and illusions to tell the extraordinary story of the famous pantomime clown, Joseph Grimaldi. Jon plays the lead role of Grimaldi, with set and costumes designed by OE Jess Curtis.

For more info/tickets, visit: http://josephgrimaldi.com

If you left KES in 1974, 1984, 1994, 2004 or 2014, a reminder that we are celebrating your decade leaving anniversaries at the Anniversary Reunion being held at KES on Sat 20 April, 11am-3pm.

Please email [email protected] by 12 April to book your free ticket!

London Calling!

OEs are warmly invited to join us at our OE Drinks Reception in London on Thursday 2 May, 6.30-8.30pm at an OE's elegant Georgian townhouse in Marylebone*.

The event is an opportunity to connect and catch up with fellow OEs who are working in and around London, as well as a chance to meet the Headmaster and the Bursar. You will hear about plans for the future of the School from the Headmaster, Martin Boden, and Development Director, Alison Heyes.

There is no charge for this event and refreshments will be served throughout the evening. The event is being made possible with the generous support of OEs Jonathan Glanz (1978) and Mark Humphries (1980). The School would like to thank both of them on behalf of our OE community.

Places are available on a first come, first served basis, so please book your place with us by 8 April at: https://bit.ly/48PWf6K

We hope you will be able to join us for what promises to be an engaging evening for the OE community!

*Address details will be provided on registration. The venue is five minutes' walk from Bond Street tube station.

Please note there is no wheelchair access at the venue.

An invitation for OEs who left the School in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s to a Summer Reunion being held at King Edward's on Saturday 15th June. This is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with fellow OEs, and to enjoy a delicious lunch and tour of the School together with current and former staff.

Why not plan a reunion with your old friends from KES? Revisit the places you remember and see how the School has grown!

There is no charge for this event and a full itinerary is included below. Partners or an accompanying gust are also welcome.

Summer Reunion
Saturday 15th June 2024, 11am-3pm
For OEs who left in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s
Wessex Building, KES

11am: Coffee and pastries
11.40am: Photos, followed by a guided tour of the School
1pm-3pm: Informal buffet lunch, with pay bar
Free entry, but please bring card/cash for bar drinks

To book your free place, please email: [email protected], with your name, year of leaving and any special dietary requirements, including name and dietary details for partner or guest.

Booking deadline: 24 May 2024
Please note that tickets are limited and will be issued on a first come, first served basis, so early booking is recommended.

Calling all Old Edwardians and KES Parents in New York!

The School's Development Director, Alison Heyes, is setting up an OE network in North America and we are excited to announce that our first event stateside for Old Edwardians and KES parents will be held at the wonderful Jupiter Restaurant on 2 April 2024, 6-8pm, on Rockefeller Center’s newly reimagined Rink Level.

Kindly hosted by a KES family, Old Edwardians and KES parents are warmly invited to an informal evening with food and drinks. Jupiter, an all-day pasta and wine eatery is the latest restaurant from the critically acclaimed trio behind King - Jess Shadbolt, Annie Shi and Clare de Boer.

The evening will be an opportunity to connect with fellow OEs and KES parents who are living in North America, whilst enjoying some fabulous pasta and other regional Italian dishes. As the event is generously being hosted by a KES family, there is no charge for the event.

Places are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you will be in New York on that day and would like to attend, please email Alison Heyes, Development Director, at [email protected] by 17 March.

A last call for this special event for all creative OEs, and all those who are interested in the Arts, on Friday 8th March, including live piano music performed by talented KES pupils!

A fantastic chance to catch up over drinks and nibbles and an exclusive private viewing of the Gwen John exhibition at Bath's beautiful Holburne Museum.

Accompanying guests are welcome.
Please book by Friday 23 Feb at: https://bit.ly/490QzqW

Anniversary Reunion 2024
OEs who left KES in 2014, 2004, 1994, 1984, and 1974 are warmly invited to a special Anniversary Reunion being held at KES on Saturday 20 April this year to celebrate their 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th and 50th leaving anniversaries!

Anniversary Reunion
Saturday 20 April 2024, 11am-3pm
The Wessex Building, KES
For the classes of 2014, 2004, 1994, 1984, & 1974 plus former and current staff.

11am: Coffee and pastries
11.40am: Year group photos, followed by a tour of the School
1pm-3pm: Informal buffet lunch with pay bar
Free entry, but please bring card/cash for bar drinks

To book your free place, please email: [email protected], with your name, year group and details of any special dietary requirements. Tickets will be issued on a first come/first served basis.

Booking deadline: 22 March 2024

Invitations have been emailed directly to all OEs in these year groups for whom we have an email address. If you missed out, please email [email protected] to join the mailing list.

Join us for the OE Bath Weekend of Culture and Sport!

Friday 8th March, 6-8pm, Holburne Museum
A Night at the Museum
Calling all creative OEs and those interested in the Arts! A fantastic opportunity to catch up and reminisce with past and present staff over drinks and nibbles, and an exclusive private viewing of the Gwen John exhibition at Bath’s beautiful Holburne Museum.

Hot topics are sure to be overseas art tours, design, creative writing, drama productions and music concerts, as well as talking about what you have been doing since you left KES!

For more info and to book tickets, please visit: https://bit.ly/490QzqW

Saturday 9th March, 3-7pm, Wessex Building, KES
Saturday lunch and Six Nations Screening
An event for rugby enthusiasts! Get together with friends and fellow OEs for a delicious late lunch and to watch England v Ireland in the Guinness Six Nations match. Another wonderful opportunity for a lively gathering of OEs plus past and present staff!

For more info and to book tickets, please visit: https://bit.ly/428fkiR

We look forward to seeing many of you at one, or both, of these events in March!

Celebrate the weekend with live music from OE Andy Burden's band! Playing the sought-after Sunday lunchtime slot at The Bell in Bath on 28th January.

News about OE Daisy Collett who will be visiting KES this week to run a series of shooting and attacking netball workshops across Senior age groups and Year 6 during games lessons and after school sessions.

We are delighted to be welcoming OE, Daisy Collet back to school this week, to run a series of shooting and attacking netball workshops across Senior age groups and Year 6 during games lessons and after school sessions.

Daisy returns to KES after previously being 1st team captain, reaching regional finals and a national final during her time here.

Post KES, Daisy has played in the Severn Stars Pathway as well as playing in the National League for Premier Romans.

Welcome back to school, Daisy!

Wishing all OEs and the wider KES community a Merry Christmas and Peace in the New Year.

Applications are now open for KES pupils in Years 10-13 with an appetite for adventure to apply for The Gilligan Family Travel Award. This annual award is generously provided by OEs Jonathan and Philip Gilligan. For more details visit: http://bit.ly/3Tl0Qd1

OEs and the wider KES community are warmly invited to this year’s Senior School production of Treasure Island - a contemporary adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic by Bryony Lavery.

With an original musical score composed by Mr Mark Boden, the School’s resident composer, and a cast involving pupils from Years 10-13, this production is a celebration of the resourcefulness and brave honour of children, and an excellent show for the whole family to enjoy!

For more information and to book tickets, please visit:
https://www.kesbath.com/about-us/box-office

At the Remembrance Day Assemblies being held across the School today, we will be remembering the 119 OEs who lost their lives during the Great War and World War 2, including Private Reginald Carr, who fought during the Third Battle of Ypres (or Passchendaele).

Launching to OEs this week - the new OElink magazine for 2023 - connecting and celebrating the alumni community of King Edward's School, Bath. Look out for your printed or digital copy. Please contact [email protected] to join the mailing list.

Dr John Wroughton played a pivotal role in the life of King Edward’s School during his long career as Head of History, Second Master and Headmaster. Always mindful of his own journey through school and university, he was passionate about giving those same life-changing opportunities to others and to providing every child with access to a first class education. This was evident in John’s deep commitment to supporting the School’s Bursary Programme, which continued throughout his retirement. The Wroughton Lecture series, which he established in 2001, has raised more than £30,000 for the Bursary Programme and continues to this day.

The School has set up the Wroughton Bursary Fund in John’s memory to award transformative bursaries to those young people most in need to enable them to attend King Edward’s regardless of their financial circumstances.

Please join us in helping Dr John Wroughton’s name and legacy live on for future generations.

To find out more and donate, please visit: https://bit.ly/3Q2mUpC